Next generation auto-dialer

ABSTRACT

Systems, methods, and a computer-readable storage media for placing a plurality of calls with a common message to a plurality of subscribers are provided. The systems, methods, and a computer-readable storage media include receiving an instruction to place the plurality of calls with the common message to the plurality of subscribers. The instruction includes call information that identifies the plurality of subscribers. One of the plurality of auto-dialers for placing each of the plurality of calls based on the call information is determined, and an instruction is transmitted to each of the plurality of auto-dialers based on results of the determination. The plurality of auto-dialers places the plurality of calls to the plurality of subscribers based on the instruction transmitted to each of the plurality of auto-dialers

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/467,568, filed on May 18, 2009. The disclosureof this document, including the specification, drawings, and claims, isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to auto-dialers. More particularly, thepresent disclosure relates to a communications system including anauto-dialer for placing a plurality of calls with a common message to aplurality of subscribers via a public switched telephone network.

2. Background Information

An auto-dialer is an electronic device that automatically places atelephone calls to telephone numbers over a communications network, suchas a public switched telephone network. Traditionally, an auto-dialer islocated in a single, central location such as a call center or otherlike facility. The call center, or other like facility, is typicallyserviced by an end office that provides the call center access to thepublic switched telephone network. The end office typically includes anend office switch, such as a class 5 switch, and the auto-dialer istypically interconnected with the end office switch via a trunk group.The auto-dialer is able to place calls in rapid succession from the callcenter and onto the public switched telephone network via the trunkgroup and the end office switch.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary general computer system that includes a set ofinstructions for generating demographic information relating to anindividual;

FIG. 2 is a schematic of an embodiment of a communications system forplacing a plurality of calls with a common message to a plurality ofsubscribers via a public switched telephone network;

FIG. 3 is a schematic of an additional embodiment of a communicationssystem for placing a plurality of calls with a common message to aplurality of subscribers via a public switched telephone network;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a method for placing aplurality of calls with a common message to a plurality of subscribersvia a public switched telephone network; and

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an additional embodiment of a method forplacing a plurality of calls with a common message to a plurality ofsubscribers via a public switched telephone network.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In view of the foregoing, the present disclosure, through one or more ofits various aspects, embodiments and/or specific features orsub-components, is thus intended to bring out one or more of theadvantages as specifically noted below.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a communicationssystem for placing a plurality of calls with a common message to aplurality of subscribers via a public switched telephone networkincludes an end office, an end office switch disposed in the end officeand in communication with the public switched telephone network, and anauto-dialer disposed in the end office and interconnected with the endoffice switch for placing the plurality of calls to the plurality ofsubscribers via the end office switch.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the auto-dialer isinterconnected with the end office switch via a trunk group.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the end officeswitch is interconnected with the plurality of subscribers via localloop lines.

According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, theauto-dialer includes an instruction receiver for receiving aninstruction to place the plurality of calls to the plurality ofsubscribers.

According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, theauto-dialer includes switch concentrator circuit information of a switchconcentrator circuit of the end office switch for determining an orderfor placing the plurality of calls.

According to an additional aspect of the present disclosure, the systemincludes a plurality of end offices, a plurality of end office switcheseach disposed in one of the end offices and in communication with thepublic switched telephone network, and a plurality of auto-dialers eachdisposed in one of the end offices and interconnected with the endoffice switch disposed in the one of the end offices.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the plurality ofthe auto-dialers each include an instruction receiver for receiving aninstruction to place the plurality of calls, and wherein a singleinstruction is transmitted to each of the instruction receivers.

According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the systemincludes an auto-dialer controller in communication with each of theauto-dialers. The auto-dialer controller receives an instruction toplace the plurality of calls, transmits the instruction to each of theauto-dialers, and transmits call information to each of the auto-dialersthat corresponds to the plurality of calls to be placed to the pluralityof subscribers. Furthermore, the auto-dialers place the plurality ofcalls to the plurality of subscribers based on the call informationtransmitted from the auto-dialer controller.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a method forplacing a plurality of calls with a common message to a plurality ofsubscribers via a public switched telephone network includes initiatingthe plurality of calls with an auto-dialer disposed in an end office,and placing the plurality of calls to the plurality of subscribers viaan end office switch disposed in the end office and in communicationwith the public switched telephone network and interconnected with theauto-dialer.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the auto-dialer isinterconnected with the end office switch via a trunk group.

According to an additional aspect of the present disclosure, the endoffice switch is interconnected with the plurality of subscribers vialocal loop lines.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the methodincludes receiving, by the auto-dialer, an instruction to place theplurality of calls to the plurality of subscribers. Furthermore, theauto-dialer initiates the plurality of calls in response to receivingthe instruction.

According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, theauto-dialer includes switch concentrator circuit information of a switchconcentrator circuit of the end office switch, and wherein theauto-dialer initiates the plurality of calls based on the switchconcentrator circuit information of the switch concentrator circuit ofthe end office switch.

According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, the methodincludes initiating the plurality of calls with a plurality ofauto-dialers, each auto-dialer being disposed in one of a plurality ofend offices, and placing the plurality of calls to the pluralitysubscribers via a plurality of end office switches, each end officeswitch being disposed in one of the end offices and interconnected withone of the auto-dialers.

According to an additional aspect of the present disclosure, the methodincludes receiving, by the plurality of auto-dialers, an instruction toplace the plurality of calls to the plurality of subscribers.Furthermore, the plurality of auto-dialers initiates the plurality ofcalls in response to receiving the instruction.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the methodincludes, receiving, by an auto-dialer controller, an instruction toplace the plurality of calls and call information corresponding to theplurality of calls to be placed to the plurality of subscribers,transmitting the instruction to place the plurality of calls from theauto-dialer controller to the plurality of auto-dialers, andtransmitting the call information from the auto-dialer controller to theplurality of auto-dialers. In this regard, the plurality of calls isinitiated with the plurality of auto-dialers based on the callinformation transmitted from the auto-dialer controller.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a tangiblecomputer-readable medium encoded with an executable computer program forplacing a plurality of calls with a common message to a plurality ofsubscribers via a public switched telephone network includes aninitiating code segment that initiates the plurality of calls with anauto-dialer disposed in an end office, and a placing code segment thatplaces the plurality of calls to the plurality subscribers via an endoffice switch disposed in the end office and in communication with thepublic switched telephone network and interconnected with theauto-dialer.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the auto-dialer isinterconnected with the end office switch via a trunk group.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the tangiblecomputer-readable medium includes a receiving code segment thatreceives, with the auto-dialer, an instruction to place the plurality ofcalls to the plurality of subscribers. In this regard, the initiatingcode segment initiates the plurality of calls in response to thereceiving code segment receiving the instruction.

According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, theauto-dialer includes switch concentrator circuit information of a switchconcentrator circuit of the end office switch, and wherein theinitiating code segment initiates the plurality of calls based on theswitch concentrator circuit information of the switch concentratorcircuit of the end office switch.

FIG. 1 is an illustrative embodiment of a general computer system, onwhich a method to provide a next generation auto-dialer can beimplemented, which is shown and is designated 100. The computer system100 can include a set of instructions that can be executed to cause thecomputer system 100 to perform any one or more of the methods orcomputer based functions disclosed herein. The computer system 100 mayoperate as a standalone device or may be connected, for example, using anetwork 101, to other computer systems or peripheral devices.

In a networked deployment, the computer system may operate in thecapacity of a server or as a client user computer in a server-clientuser network environment, or as a peer computer system in a peer-to-peer(or distributed) network environment. The computer system 100 can alsobe implemented as or incorporated into various devices, such as apersonal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a personaldigital assistant (PDA), a mobile device, a global positioning satellite(GPS) device, a palmtop computer, a laptop computer, a desktop computer,a communications device, a wireless telephone, a land-line telephone, acontrol system, a camera, a scanner, a facsimile machine, a printer, apager, a personal trusted device, a web appliance, a network router,switch or bridge, or any other machine capable of executing a set ofinstructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be takenby that machine. In a particular embodiment, the computer system 100 canbe implemented using electronic devices that provide voice, video ordata communication. Further, while a single computer system 100 isillustrated, the term “system” shall also be taken to include anycollection of systems or sub-systems that individually or jointlyexecute a set, or multiple sets, of instructions to perform one or morecomputer functions.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the computer system 100 may include aprocessor 110, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a graphicsprocessing unit (GPU), or both. Moreover, the computer system 100 caninclude a main memory 120 and a static memory 130 that can communicatewith each other via a bus 108. As shown, the computer system 100 mayfurther include a video display unit 150, such as a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), a flat paneldisplay, a solid state display, or a cathode ray tube (CRT).Additionally, the computer system 100 may include an input device 160,such as a keyboard, and a cursor control device 170, such as a mouse.The computer system 100 can also include a disk drive unit 180, a signalgeneration device 190, such as a speaker or remote control, and anetwork interface device 140.

In a particular embodiment, as depicted in FIG. 1, the disk drive unit180 may include a computer-readable medium 182 in which one or more setsof instructions 184, e.g. software, can be embedded. A computer-readablemedium 182 is a tangible article of manufacture, from which sets ofinstructions 184 can be read. Further, the instructions 184 may embodyone or more of the methods or logic as described herein. In a particularembodiment, the instructions 184 may reside completely, or at leastpartially, within the main memory 120, the static memory 130, and/orwithin the processor 110 during execution by the computer system 100.The main memory 120 and the processor 110 also may includecomputer-readable media.

In an alternative embodiment, dedicated hardware implementations, suchas application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arraysand other hardware devices, can be constructed to implement one or moreof the methods described herein. Applications that may include theapparatus and systems of various embodiments can broadly include avariety of electronic and computer systems. One or more embodimentsdescribed herein may implement functions using two or more specificinterconnected hardware modules or devices with related control and datasignals that can be communicated between and through the modules, or asportions of an application-specific integrated circuit. Accordingly, thepresent system encompasses software, firmware, and hardwareimplementations.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, themethods described herein may be implemented by software programsexecutable by a computer system. Further, in an exemplary, non-limitedembodiment, implementations can include distributed processing,component/object distributed processing, and parallel processing.Alternatively, virtual computer system processing can be constructed toimplement one or more of the methods or functionality as describedherein.

The present disclosure contemplates a computer-readable medium 182 thatincludes instructions 184 or receives and executes instructions 184responsive to a propagated signal, so that a device connected to anetwork 101 can communicate voice, video or data over the network 101.Further, the instructions 184 may be transmitted or received over thenetwork 101 via the network interface device 140.

FIG. 2 generally shows a communications system 201 for placing aplurality of calls with a common message to a plurality of subscribersvia a public switched telephone network 203. The communication systemincludes an end office 205, or other like facility, that provides accessto the public switched telephone network 203. Those skilled in the artappreciate that the end office 205 may alternatively be referred to as acentral office.

An end office switch 207 is disposed in the end office 205 and is incommunication with the public switched telephone network 203. The endoffice switch is generally a class 5 switch such as, for example, LucentTechnologies 5ESS and Nortel Networks DMS-10. As shown in FIG. 3, theend office switch 207 is generally interconnected with customer premisesequipment 209 of the subscribers via local loop, or subscriber, lines211.

An auto-dialer 213 is disposed in the end office 205 and isinterconnected with the end office switch 207 for placing the pluralityof calls to the plurality of subscribers via the end office switch 207.In an alternative embodiment of the communications system 201, aplurality of end office switches 207 are disposed in the end office 205and the auto-dialer is interconnected with each of the plurality of endoffice switches 207. The auto-dialer 213 is generally interconnectedwith each end office switch 207 via a trunk group 215. Those skilled inthe art appreciate that in additional embodiments of the communicationssystem 201 the auto-dialer 213 may be a predictive dialer, a powerdialer, or any other automated dialer commonly known in the art.

In the embodiment of the communications system 301 as shown in FIG. 3,the auto-dialer 213 includes an instruction receiver 215 for receivingan instruction to place the plurality of calls to the plurality ofsubscribers. The instruction may include call information that comprisesthe message to be delivered to the plurality of subscribers and/orinformation that identifies the plurality of subscribers to which themessage is to be delivered. In an exemplary embodiment of thecommunications system 201, the receiver 215 of the auto-dialer 213 isconfigured to receive an instruction from a police department, a firedepartment, or a school district to place a plurality of calls to aplurality of subscribers to deliver a message comprising a severeweather warning or a school closure notice. In alternative embodiments,those skilled in the art appreciate that the receiver 215 of theauto-dialer 213 may receive instructions from additional sources fordifferent purposes such as, but not limited to, delivering information,lead generation, conducting surveys, promotions, sweepstakes, andsending out reminders.

The auto-dialer 213 may include switch concentrator circuit informationof a switch concentrator circuit of the end office switch 207 fordetermining an order for placing the plurality of calls to the pluralityof subscribers. In this regard, based on the switch concentrator circuitinformation, the auto-dialer 213 can efficiently determine the order inwhich the plurality of calls is placed such that the greatest number ofsubscribers receive the common message. Furthermore, the auto-dialer 213may be configured to detect switch or trunk group overload conditionsbased on the switch concentrator circuit information and to adjust thefrequency and/or the route in which the plurality of calls is placed toprevent switch concentrator blocking. In an exemplary embodiment, theswitch concentrator circuit information is line card to telephone numberinformation of the end office switch 207 along with information of otherswitches so that the auto-dialer 213 can efficiently determine the orderin which the plurality of calls is placed to the plurality ofsubscribers.

As shown in FIG. 2, the communication system 201 may include a pluralityof end offices 205, a plurality of end office switches 207 that are eachdisposed in one of the end offices 205 and that are each incommunication with the public switched telephone network 203, and aplurality of auto-dialers 213 that are each disposed in one of the endoffices 205 and that are in communication with the end office switch 207disposed in the corresponding end office 205. In such an embodiment,each auto-dialer 213 may include an instruction receiver 215 forreceiving an instruction to place the plurality of calls to theplurality of subscribers. A single instruction can be transmittedsimultaneously to the instruction receiver 215 of each of the pluralityof auto-dialers 213, or, alternatively, the instruction receiver 215 ofeach auto-dialer 213 can receive an instruction to place a plurality ofcalls independently of the other auto-dialers 213.

In an embodiment of the communications system, an auto-dialer controller217 is in communication with each auto-dialer 213. The auto-dialercontroller 217 may receive the instruction to place the plurality ofcalls and may transmit the instruction to each of the auto-dialers. Theauto-dialer controller 217 also may receive call information, such as atelephone number of each of the subscribers to which the plurality ofcalls is to be placed and/or a message that is to be delivered to eachof the subscribers. The auto-dialer controller 217 may determine anappropriate auto-dialer 213 for placing the call to each of theplurality of subscribers based on the call information and may transmitthe call information to the corresponding auto-dialer 217.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in FIG. 4, amethod for placing a plurality of calls with a common message to aplurality of subscribers via a public switched telephone network isgenerally shown at 401. The method 401 includes, at step S403,receiving, by an auto-dialer disposed in an end office, an instructionto place the plurality of calls to the plurality of subscribers. At stepS405, the plurality of calls is initiated with the auto-dialer inresponse to receiving the instruction and, at step S407, the pluralityof calls is placed to the plurality of subscribers via an end officeswitch. The end office switch is disposed in the end office, is incommunication with the public switched telephone network, and isinterconnected with the auto-dialer. In step S407, the plurality ofcalls is placed from the auto-dialer to the end office switch via atrunk group that interconnects the auto-dialer and the end officeswitch. The plurality of calls may be placed from the end office switchto the subscribers via local loop lines, or subscriber lines, thatinterconnect the end office switch and the plurality of subscribers. Inthe method 401, the auto-dialer may include switch concentrator circuitinformation of a switch concentrator circuit of the end office switch,and, in step S405, the plurality of calls may be initiated by theauto-dialer based on the switch concentrator circuit information of theswitch concentrator circuit of the end office switch.

In an alternative embodiment of the method 401 shown in FIG. 4, a methodfor placing a plurality of calls with a common message to a plurality ofsubscribers via a public switched telephone network is generally shownat 501 in FIG. 5. The method 501 includes, at step S503, receiving, byan auto-dialer controller, an instruction to place the plurality ofcalls and call information corresponding to the plurality of calls to beplaced. At step S505, the call information is transmitted from theauto-dialer controller to the plurality of auto-dialers. At step S507,the instruction to place the plurality of calls is transmitted from theauto-dialer controller to a plurality of auto-dialers each disposed inan end office. At step S509, the plurality of auto-dialers initiate theplurality of calls based on the call information, and, at step S511, theplurality of calls is placed from the plurality of auto-dialers to theplurality of subscribers via a plurality of end office switches. In stepS511, each end office switch is disposed in one of the end offices andinterconnected with one of the auto-dialers disposed therein.

The present disclosure also provides a tangible computer-readable mediumencoded with an executable computer program for placing a plurality ofcalls with a common message to a plurality of subscribers via a publicswitched telephone network. The tangible computer-readable mediumincludes an initiating code segment that initiates the plurality ofcalls with an auto-dialer disposed in an end office, and a placing codesegment that places the plurality of calls to the plurality subscribersvia an end office switch disposed in the end office and in communicationwith the public switched telephone network and interconnected with theauto-dialer. The auto-dialer may be interconnected with the end officeswitch via a trunk group. Additionally, the auto-dialer may includeswitch concentrator circuit information of a switch concentrator circuitof the end office switch. In this regard, the initiating code segmentmay initiate the plurality of calls based on the switch concentratorcircuit information of the switch concentrator circuit of the end officeswitch to prevent switch concentrator blocking.

In an embodiment of the tangible computer-readable medium, the tangiblecomputer-readable medium further includes a receiving code segment thatreceives, with the auto-dialer, an instruction to place the plurality ofcalls to the plurality of subscribers. In this regard, the initiatingcode segment may initiate the plurality of calls in response to thereceiving code segment receiving the instruction.

Accordingly, the present invention enables a plurality of calls to beplaced with an auto-dialer to a plurality of subscribers via a publicswitched telephone network while eliminating trunk group blocking andswitch blocking. An auto-dialer is installed in each end office with atrunk group connected to the end office switch(es) disposed in that endoffice. An instruction is sent to a specific auto-dialer or to aplurality of auto-dialers, and the calls are initiated by theauto-dialers within each end office, thereby eliminating inter-officeswitch blocking. Furthermore, since each auto-dialer includes switchconcentrator circuit information of a switch concentrator circuit of theend office switch(es) that the auto-dialer is interconnected with, theauto-dialer can efficiently order calling to eliminate switchconcentrator blocking.

Although the invention has been described with reference to severalexemplary embodiments, it is understood that the words that have beenused are words of description and illustration, rather than words oflimitation. Changes may be made within the purview of the appendedclaims, as presently stated and as amended, without departing from thescope and spirit of the invention in its aspects. Although the inventionhas been described with reference to particular means, materials andembodiments, the invention is not intended to be limited to theparticulars disclosed; rather the invention extends to all functionallyequivalent structures, methods, and uses such as are within the scope ofthe appended claims.

For example, the auto-dialer described herein may be any type ofautomatic dialer such as, but not limited to, an auto-dialer, apredictive dialer, and a power dialer. Furthermore, while theauto-dialer is described as being interconnected with the end officeswitch via a trunk group, those skilled in the art appreciate thatalternative connections may also be employed. Additionally, thoseskilled in the art further appreciate that the communication systemdescribed herein may be used for any purpose such as, but not limitedto, delivering information, lead generation, conducting surveys,promotions, sweepstakes, and sending out reminders.

While the computer-readable medium is shown to be a single medium, theterm “computer-readable medium” includes a single medium or multiplemedia, such as a centralized or distributed database, and/or associatedcaches and servers that store one or more sets of instructions. The term“computer-readable medium” shall also include any medium that is capableof storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution bya processor or that cause a computer system to perform any one or moreof the methods or operations disclosed herein.

In a particular non-limiting, exemplary embodiment, thecomputer-readable medium can include a solid-state memory such as amemory card or other package that houses one or more non-volatileread-only memories. Further, the computer-readable medium can be arandom access memory or other volatile re-writable memory. Additionally,the computer-readable medium can include a magneto-optical or opticalmedium, such as a disk or tapes or other storage device to capturecarrier wave signals such as a signal communicated over a transmissionmedium. Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include anycomputer-readable medium or other equivalents and successor media, inwhich data or instructions may be stored.

Although the present specification describes components and functionsthat may be implemented in particular embodiments with reference toparticular standards and protocols, the disclosure is not limited tosuch standards and protocols. For example, standards for Internet andother packed switched network transmission of communication systemsrepresent examples of the state of the art. Such standards areperiodically superseded by faster or more efficient equivalents havingessentially the same functions. Accordingly, replacement standards andprotocols having the same or similar functions are consideredequivalents thereof.

The illustrations of the embodiments described herein are intended toprovide a general understanding of the structure of the variousembodiments. The illustrations are not intended to serve as a completedescription of all of the elements and features of apparatus and systemsthat utilize the structures or methods described herein. Many otherembodiments may be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewingthe disclosure. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived from thedisclosure, such that structural and logical substitutions and changesmay be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure.Additionally, the illustrations are merely representational and may notbe drawn to scale. Certain proportions within the illustrations may beexaggerated, while other proportions may be minimized. Accordingly, thedisclosure and the figures are to be regarded as illustrative ratherthan restrictive.

One or more embodiments of the disclosure may be referred to herein,individually and/or collectively, by the term “invention” merely forconvenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of thisapplication to any particular invention or inventive concept. Moreover,although specific embodiments have been illustrated and describedherein, it should be appreciated that any subsequent arrangementdesigned to achieve the same or similar purpose may be substituted forthe specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover anyand all subsequent adaptations or variations of various embodiments.Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments notspecifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in theart upon reviewing the description.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37C.F.R.§1.72(b) and is submitted with the understanding that it will notbe used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. Inaddition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, various features may begrouped together or described in a single embodiment for the purpose ofstreamlining the disclosure. This disclosure is not to be interpreted asreflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require morefeatures than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as thefollowing claims reflect, inventive subject matter may be directed toless than all of the features of any of the disclosed embodiments. Thus,the following claims are incorporated into the Detailed Description,with each claim standing on its own as defining separately claimedsubject matter.

The above disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, andnot restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all suchmodifications, enhancements, and other embodiments which fall within thetrue spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Thus, to the maximumextent allowed by law, the scope of the present disclosure is to bedetermined by the broadest permissible interpretation of the followingclaims and their equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited bythe foregoing detailed description.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for placing a plurality of calls with acommon message to a plurality of subscribers, the system comprising: aplurality of auto-dialers; a processor in communication with each of theplurality of auto-dialers; and a memory storing instructions that, whenexecuted by the processor, cause the processor to perform operationsincluding: receiving an instruction to place the plurality of calls withthe common message to the plurality of subscribers, the instructionincluding call information that identifies the plurality of subscribers;determining one of the plurality of auto-dialers for placing each of theplurality of calls based on the call information; and transmitting aninstruction to each of the plurality of auto-dialers based on results ofthe determining, wherein the plurality of auto-dialers places theplurality of calls to the plurality of subscribers based on theinstruction transmitted from the processor to each of the plurality ofauto-dialers.
 2. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein theplurality of auto-dialers are interconnected with a plurality of endoffice switches, each of the plurality of end office switches being incommunication with a public switched telephone network, and theplurality of auto-dialers places the plurality of calls to the pluralityof subscribers on the public switched telephone network via theplurality of end office switches.
 3. The system as set forth in claim 2,wherein each of the plurality of end office switches and eachcorresponding one of the plurality of auto-dialers is disposed in one ofa plurality of end offices.
 4. The system as set forth in claim 3,wherein each of the plurality of auto-dialers is configured to determinean order for placing the plurality of calls to the plurality ofsubscribers.
 5. The system as set forth in claim 4, wherein each of theplurality of auto-dialers includes switch concentrator circuitinformation of a switch concentrator circuit of a corresponding one ofthe plurality of end office switches for determining the order forplacing the plurality of calls to the plurality of subscribers.
 6. Thesystem as set forth in claim 2, wherein each of the plurality ofauto-dialers is interconnected with one of the plurality of end officeswitches via a trunk group.
 7. The system as set forth in claim 1,wherein each of the plurality of auto-dialers is configured to determinean order for placing the plurality of calls to the plurality ofsubscribers.
 8. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of theplurality of auto-dialers is configured to adjust a frequency in whichthe plurality of calls is placed to the plurality of subscribers.
 9. Thesystem as set forth in claim 1, wherein the plurality of auto-dialersplaces the plurality of calls to the plurality of subscribers via thepublic switched telephone network.
 10. A method for placing a pluralityof calls with a common message to a plurality of subscribers, the methodcomprising: receiving, by a processor, an instruction to place theplurality of calls with the common message to the plurality ofsubscribers, the instruction including call information that identifiesthe plurality of subscribers; determining, by the processor, one of aplurality of auto-dialers for placing each of the plurality of callsbased on the call information; transmitting, by the processor, aninstruction to each of the plurality of auto-dialers based on results ofthe determining; and placing the plurality of calls to the plurality ofsubscribers with the plurality of auto-dialers based on the instructiontransmitted from the processor to each of the plurality of auto-dialers.11. The method as set forth in claim 10, wherein the plurality ofauto-dialers are interconnected with a plurality of end office switches,each of the plurality of end office switches being in communication witha public switched telephone network, the method further comprising:placing the plurality of calls to the plurality of subscribers with theplurality of auto-dialers on the public switched telephone network viathe plurality of end office switches.
 12. The method as set forth inclaim 11, wherein each of the plurality of end office switches and eachcorresponding one of the plurality of auto-dialers is disposed in one ofa plurality of end offices, and the plurality of calls are placed fromthe plurality of end offices.
 13. The method as set forth in claim 12,further comprising: determining, by each of the plurality ofauto-dialers, an order for placing the plurality of calls to theplurality of subscribers.
 14. The method as set forth in claim 13,wherein each of the plurality of auto-dialers determines the order forplacing the plurality of calls to the plurality of subscribers usingswitch concentrator circuit information of a switch concentrator circuitof a corresponding one of the plurality of end office switches.
 15. Themethod as set forth in claim 10, wherein the plurality of auto-dialersplaces the plurality of calls to the plurality of subscribers via thepublic switched telephone network.
 16. A computer-readable storagemedium having an executable computer program for placing a plurality ofcalls with a common message to a plurality of subscribers that, whenexecuted by a processor, causes the processor to perform operationscomprising: receiving an instruction to place the plurality of callswith the common message to the plurality of subscribers, the instructionincluding call information that identifies the plurality of subscribers;determining one of a plurality of auto-dialers for placing each of theplurality of calls based on the call information; transmitting aninstruction to each of the plurality of auto-dialers based on results ofthe determining; and placing the plurality of calls to the plurality ofsubscribers with the plurality of auto-dialers based on the instructiontransmitted to each of the plurality of auto-dialers.
 17. Thecomputer-readable storage medium as set forth in claim 16, wherein theplurality of auto-dialers are interconnected with a plurality of endoffice switches, each of the plurality of end office switches being incommunication with a public switched telephone network, the operationsfurther comprising: placing the plurality of calls to the plurality ofsubscribers plurality with the plurality of auto-dialers on the publicswitched telephone network via the plurality of end office switches. 18.The computer-readable storage medium as set forth in claim 17, whereineach of the plurality of end office switches and each corresponding oneof the plurality of auto-dialers is disposed in one of a plurality ofend offices, and the plurality of calls are placed from the plurality ofend offices.
 19. The computer-readable storage medium as set forth inclaim 18, further comprising: determining an order for placing theplurality of calls to the plurality of subscribers for each of theplurality of auto-dialers.
 20. The computer-readable storage medium asset forth in claim 19, wherein each of the plurality of auto-dialersdetermines the order for placing the plurality of calls to the pluralityof subscribers using switch concentrator circuit information of a switchconcentrator circuit of a corresponding one of the plurality of endoffice switches.